How to survive a hurricane in Florida?
During our honeymoon, my wife and I spent the night in Hurricane, a little town in Utah. According to local legend, a Mormon leader named the hill like this when the top of his buggy blew off by a heavy wind gust. The city’s website gleefully clarified there aren’t actual hurricanes in Hurricane, because “This is Utah, not Florida” Nonetheless, we weren’t expecting to see one when we started to live in the sunshine state.
It all started on Monday last week when we were planning a canoe trip for the Labor day weekend. Our plans were already settled when we heard there was a tropical storm heading our way. Still nameless, so it didn’t feel very impressive, however, the weather guys predicted there might be tornados along its path combined with heavy wind and rain. Not ideal conditions to paddle through, even on a day of labor.
A couple of days later, the storm got a J.K. Rowling inspired name and predicted to become a category one hurricane with Tallahassee in its main trajectory. Now, we get our fair share of autumn storms back home, but the word ‘hurricane’ is way too tropical for us to associate with the leafy, rainy and cold gusty weather we get at the end of the year. Add the Dutch tendency for above average US news coverage and you can imagine we thought a pre-warning text to our family and friends wouldn’t hurt. We don’t want them to panic during the eight o’clock news with no response from us due to some power outage in the storm’s wake.
Speaking of panic. At work, I could easily identify the colleagues raised in Florida based on the amount of stress they displayed. Although it has been more than a decade since a hurricane hit the state, most of the natives were pretty calm in anticipation. We got together during lunch the day before the storm and pizzas were brought in. While eating, the department head made some announcements about closing the office early and starting late next day. All to make sure we wouldn’t have to dodge broken power lines and fallen trees on our way to work. He couldn’t help but as asking if there was anyone who never experienced a hurricane before. Just me and the other European anxiously raised our hand while swallowing the last chunk of quattro stagioni. A couple of you’re-in-for-a-treat noises ensued, but I couldn’t tell if they were sarcastic or not. I prefer pepperoni.
After lunch, I eagerly gathered some more info on what to expect, looked at every weather site I could find, discovered another weird US unit (Inch of mercury, really?) and I called my wife to get some extra water and fill up the tank while we still had the change. I went home early and we watched Netflix all night, only to switch to local weather and news updates every thirty minutes. The rain was gradually intensifying, but nothing more than what we’ve gotten used to here.
At one in the morning, the storm was all over us, the wind and rain hammering against the walls and windows. (We love it here!) I am still not sure whether it was actually the wind or if it just felt more intense since I am used to sleeping in a house with thick brick walls. Fortunately for us, we had another bedroom at the opposite side of the house so we could catch some sleep. Half an hour later the power went out.
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We woke up early the following day. I looked up and noticed the roof was still there and outside the cars were undamaged and the trees still rooted. Some leafs and branches on the street, but otherwise clear skies and a light breeze. So was that it? A bit warm and humid but nothing the AC couldn’t handle. O wait, no power. Well, at least my phone had internet so I could send a text home that we’re ok. As I expected, we got a link back from my brother to a Dutch news article. About 70.000 homes without power. Glad we’re not alone. Is it always so hot at this early time of day? Miraculously the shower didn’t disappoint and woke us up with nice hot water.
Phone battery at 86%
I was looking forward going to the cool office later that day until I got a text they had no power either. Work was canceled. Perhaps a fresh hot cup of coffee then? Nope, no power at Starbucks today. The supermarket next door was on backup generators and doing good business. I have never seen such a large crowd there with everyone buying bags of ice, water, and other off-the-grid essentials. AC was running inside so it was a nice escape from the warmth and humid as well. Later that day we watched the city’s press conference on youtube. 80% of Tallahassee was without power, but if all goes well, power should be restored soon.
Phone battery at 52%
At this point, I started to get really bored. A lot. My laptop was trying to charge my phone but failing miserably. I wanted to save phone battery because it was the only way to keep up with hurricane news. I tried that John Grisham novel again, but the story was just too dull and I swapped with my wife’s e-reader. Another press conference at seven that evening. Just a small amendment to the previous statement; expect power to be back within a week. The damage was a bit more extensive than earlier anticipated.
Phone battery at 35%
The e-reader became heavy on my eyes so I decided to sleep in early. It might also have something to do with sitting in the dark with only a pathetic little flashlight. At times like this, we really miss our stuff we have back home. Like candles, charcoal grill, and those board games we forgot to bring for the second time in a row now. Fortunately, several colleagues offered us to stay at their place because they had a backup generator and liked the company. We were definitely planning to take them up on that offer the next day and perhaps even try to go some place to swim and cool down outside the city.
Phone battery at 21%
Those plans all became obsolete late that night. My wife woke me up with a smile and I heard the neighbors cheering and applauding. Birds started to sing. The power was restored! After 22 hours, the electricity gods had honored our prayers and the nice artificial breeze of the AC was cooling the house again. Phone battery at 25% and rising, wifi was back too and we could finally make a hot meal and a nice cup of thee. The best one we’ve had in a long time.
After resetting half a dozen clocks in the house I took a look at the online power outage map to see how the rest was doing. Apparently, we were very lucky since even after the labor day weekend a lot of colleagues were still without. Some had their electricity back just yesterday, almost a week after the storm.
Not unsurprisingly, a discussion ensued in the media about why all these power lines in Tallahassee were still above ground in the first place. And I admit, for a second I met the European stereotype when feeling slightly superior to these poor old Americans with their poor old power grid. But mostly I was impressed by how we all made sure everyone was alright during the fallout. It would make the cold, calculating Dutch slightly jealous. Checking in afterward, helping each other with backup generators and the various places you could go to and cool down and get some fresh food and water. Granted, back home our government would probably have tried to minimize the impact, even if that means they had to put a lot more tax dollars euros at work. But there is something to be said about the sense of community I felt in the aftermath of the storm.
